ἐνδύνω (endunō)
endunō
to sneak
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb endunō primarily means to put on clothing or to be clothed with something. In the New Testament, it appears in various contexts where Jesus or his followers are described wearing garments, such as when soldiers dressed him in purple before the crucifixion (Matthew 27:28) or when Paul urges believers to "put on" the new self created in God’s image (Ephesians 4:24). This literal sense of covering the body extends metaphorically to spiritual realities, such as putting on Christ himself (Galatians 3:27) or donning the armor of God (Ephesians 6:11).
However, in its single occurrence in 2 Timothy 3:6, the word takes on a significantly different nuance. Here, it describes women who "creep into" houses, insinuating themselves into households to gain influence. This usage highlights a stealthy, deceptive entry rather than simple dressing. While most translations render this as "sneak into" or "creep into," the root meaning of entering or putting oneself inside remains central, contrasting sharply with its common positive uses elsewhere in Scripture.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word endunō carries a dual nature in Scripture. While it often describes the positive act of putting on Christ or spiritual armor, its single New Testament appearance warns against stealthy deception. In 2 Timothy 3:6, it depicts individuals who insinuate themselves into homes to exploit the vulnerable. This usage reminds us that not all who enter our lives do so with pure intentions.
For your faith, this word calls for discernment. It encourages you to guard your heart and home against those who seek to manipulate through secrecy rather than truth. By recognizing the difference between genuine community and hidden agendas, you can protect your spiritual well-being while remaining open to honest relationships.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- entering1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἐνδύνοντες1×
Key Verses
-
II Timothy 3:6
For some of these are people who creep into houses and take captive gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts,
This verse uniquely uses the word to describe deceptive infiltration into households, contrasting sharply with its usual positive meaning of clothing.